Your Back to School Skin Care Guide

Before heading back to school this fall, you may want to consider making over your skin care routine. While you’re stocking your closet with new clothes and your backpack with new books, you might need to start filling your medicine cabinet with new facial cleansers, facial moisturizers, and more as the season changes from summer to fall. That’s because the skin care products you used during the warm weather season may not be quite right for your beauty look come the cold. And it just so happens back-to-school is the perfect opportunity to make a change. Follow this easy guide for planning your back-to-school skin care essentials.

SKIN CARE TIP #1: CHOOSE A CLEANSER FORMULATED FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE

If there’s ever a time to be an individual, it’s when you’re picking out a cleanser. You’re probably well aware that cleansing should be a non-negotiable step in your skin care routine—no matter how difficult it is to wake up a few minutes earlier in the morning before school—but it’s also important to use the right cleanser for your skin type. The L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay cleanser line consists of facial cleansers that are formulated to seamlessly transform from a clay to mousse. Find your perfect match below. 

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Purify and Mattify Cleanser: Does your skin tend to get greasy by lunchtime? Then consider giving this facial cleanser a chance. Formulated with eucalyptus, this clay cleanser formula is suitable for all skin types. It goes beyond daily cleansing to help deep clean and remove excess oils from the surface for skin that feels refreshed. Immediately, skin is purified of dirt, oil, and pollution and has a matte finish.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox and Brighten Cleanser: It’s time to get familiar with the charcoal beauty trend! Suitable for all skin types and formulated with charcoal, this clay cleanser formula leaves skin purified of dirt, oil, and pollution immediately after using, and your complexion will be left with a clean, clear look.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Exfoliate and Refine Cleanser: Save yourself a little time in the morning by reaching for a cleanser that works double duty by cleansing and exfoliating in one step. This clay cleanser formula, which is formulated with red algae, goes beyond daily cleansing to help exfoliate the surface of your skin. Instantly, skin is purified of dirt, oil, and pollution and is left with a clean, clear look. It’s suitable for oily to combination skin.

SKIN CARE TIP #2: KEEP CLEANSING TOWELETTES IN YOUR TOTE

Whether you have physical education class this semester or you’re planning to head straight to the gym after school, it’s always a good idea to have makeup removing wipes in your locker or your bag. While it’s true that typically you only need to wash your face twice a day—morning and night—the exception is when you’ve worked up a serious sweat. After exercising, you’ll want to cleanse your complexion to help remove any impurities that have built up on the surface of your skin. The easiest solution? Wipes! Try the L’Oréal Paris Ideal Clean All Skin Types Makeup Removing Towelettes; just swipe across your skin to remove all traces of makeup, dirt and oil.

SKIN CARE TIP #3: MOISTURIZE MORNING AND NIGHT

The same way it’s been drilled into your head that you need to drink plenty of water to help keep yourself hydrated, hydrating your skin is important too. So, make sure to apply a moisturizer when you wake and again before bed. After washing your face, both in the AM and PM, hold off on towel drying. Instead, apply your moisturizer to damp skin to help lock in hydration. When it comes to picking out a moisturizer, look for one that’s formulated for your skin type. Try a moisturizer from the L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care line. Each one is formulated with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera water to help provide long-lasting hydration.

L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Oily Skin: In normal and oily skin, external factors such as pollution, UV rays, and excessive cleansing can damage skin’s moisture barrier, causing loss of moisture and an increase in oil production. As a result, your complexion can start to look overly shiny. This water-based moisturizer helps reduce the appearance of excess shine and has a matte finish.

L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Dry Skin: Normal and dry skin faces external factors such as pollution and UV rays that can damage the skin’s moisture barrier, increasing loss of moisture and causing it to become drier. As a result, skin surfaces loses it glow, becoming dull-looking. This water-based moisturizer envelops skin with moisture, improving the look of skin’s radiance.

L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Extra Dry Skin: Your skin has a very fragile moisture barrier that can be easily damaged by external factors such as pollution and UV rays. Skin consequently loses its ability to retain moisture, becoming easily dehydrated, feeling tight and uncomfortable. This water-based moisturizer envelops skin with moisture, providing comfort.

SKIN CARE TIP #4: ADD EYE CREAM INTO YOUR ROUTINE

Think you’re too young to use an eye cream? Think again! It’s all about using an eye cream preventatively. The L’Oréal Paris Eye Defense is a light, non-greasy gel-cream specially formulated to defend against signs of premature aging around the eyes. Formulated with caffeine and hyaluronic acid, it helps to hydrate the skin around your eyes. This eye cream can help reduce the look of puffiness, smooth the look of wrinkles, and diminish the look of dark circles. Apply it in small dots around your eye area and smooth it gently until it’s thoroughly absorbed, morning and night.

SKIN CARE TIP #5: APPLY BROAD-SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN DAILY

Summer may have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean you should put your sunscreen away until next year. Wearing sunscreen should be part of your daily skin care routine year-round. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you should apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher each day, in addition to a few other sun protection measures. You should also reapply sunscreen at least every two hours (or immediately after swimming or sweating), limit your amount of time in the sun (especially during the sun’s peak hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), seek shade, and cover up in long sleeves, pants, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses. Back to school shopping trip, anyone?

SKIN CARE TIP #6: MAKE MASKING A WEEKLY RITUAL

Masking can be a total treat for your skin—but that doesn’t mean face masks need to be saved for special occasions. In fact, the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask line is meant to be used 2-3 times a week for best results. Turn taking care of your skin into a fun event by inviting friends over for masks and movies. Have a few masks on hand that address a variety of skin issues and you’re all set to socialize while you work on your complexion. Try one of the following face masks:

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clear & Comfort Face Mask: Formulated with seaweed, this mask can help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution, reduce the look of imperfections, and gently cleanse stressed areas.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Exfoliate & Refining Face Mask: Formulated with red algae extract, this mask can help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and exfoliate dead skin cells from the surface of your skin.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Purify & Mattify Face Mask: Formulated with eucalyptus leaf extract, this mask can help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and reduce the look of shine.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Face Mask: Formulated with charcoal, this mask can help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution and reduce the look of dull skin.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clarify & Smooth Face Mask: Formulated with yuzu lemon, this mask can help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution, shed rough, dead skin cells and improve skin texture.

Want to use more than one of these masks at the same time? No problem—read our article, Multi-Masking 101: How to Use Multiple Face Masks at Once on Combination Skin.

SKIN CARE TIP #7: CORRECT THE LOOK OF REDNESS WITH A GREEN BB CREAM

As much as you can try to lock down the right skin care regimen before school starts, there’s always a chance you could wake up on the first day with a less than stellar-looking complexion. Does your skin look red? Opt for a BB cream with a green tint, like the L’Oréal Paris Magic BB Anti-Redness (For All Skin Tones), to help neutralize the look of redness, correct skin color for an even-looking complexion, hydrate for long-lasting moisture, and perfect the appearance of your complexion.

SKIN CARE TIP #8: WEAR TINTED LIP BALM FOR A POP OF COLOR

When you’re in a rush getting ready for school, you may not have the time to put on a full face of makeup. Instead of skipping out on breakfast or sleep (priorities, people) to spend more time on your makeup, keep it simple. All you need to make a statement is a tinted lip balm. Look for a hydrating option in a bright color, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Balm Pop in Fiery Red or the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Glossy Balm in Pink Me Up. Kiss, kiss!

SKIN CARE TIP #9: GET A GOLDEN GLOW WITH SELF-TANNER

Just because summer’s over doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to looking bronzed. Simply reach for a self-tanner, like the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ Self-Tanning Towelettes for Body. These individually wrapped towelettes are super-convenient, so use them the week before school starts to get your glow on. Just make sure to exfoliate and moisturize beforehand!

For more back to school tips, read our article, How to Stock Your Makeup Bag for Back to School.